ABD Overseas vs ABD USA

[Diskidatheart]

This may sound like a strange question, but I was reading a trip report for the Southwest Splendors trip that was done last year. Although the author enjoyed the trip, it was noted that they enjoyed their previous trip to Peru even more and it seemed more special to them. I was considering doing the SW Splendors trip next year, but I'm concerned that I will be disappointed after my Viva Italia trip.

So, my question is for those of you who have done multiple trips, especially those of you who have done overseas trips and US trips, did you find the overseas trips to be better? I'm not suggesting that the US trips are not good as I'm sure they are wonderful, but I'm just trying to figure out if it was the overseas trip that are just that good or is the second ABD trip a little less exciting because your expectations are much higher.

 

[marcemch]

This may sound like a strange question, but I was reading a trip report for the Southwest Splendors trip that was done last year. Although the author enjoyed the trip, it was noted that they enjoyed their previous trip to Peru even more and it seemed more special to them. I was considering doing the SW Splendors trip next year, but I'm concerned that I will be disappointed after my Viva Italia trip.

So, my question is for those of you who have done multiple trips, especially those of you who have done overseas trips and US trips, did you find the overseas trips to be better? I'm not suggesting that the US trips are not good as I'm sure they are wonderful, but I'm just trying to figure out if it was the overseas trip that are just that good or is the second ABD trip a little less exciting because your expectations are much higher.

I will be interested to see other's thoughts here too, because we did Germany first, then Alaska, and were somewhat disappointed with Alaska. I have thought often of why that was so, and I think I can summarize summarize some of my thoughts.
- Outside of the US is just more DIFFERENT than it is here - maybe more exotic, etc. In Alaska, we had basically the same kind of food, stores, television, language etc. that we have at home.
- US trips are more nature oriented vs. historic sights and exposure to a different culture. I loved the wilderness of Alaska, but my 9 year old thought it was a lot like Colorado, where we vacation often, and didn't see the "magic" in the surroundings. However, she was entranced by the cobblestone streets, cute shops, walled cities, and magical castles (don't see those around home!) of Germany.
-Overseas seems to lend itself to more surprises (like an historical figure "in person" here and there!).


I came home from Germany thinking we had done so many things there that we would not have done on our own. With a couple exceptions, the outings in Alaska were "prepackaged" tours that we could have arranged on our own. Of course, they did a good job with the logistics of putting them all together for us.

Bottom line is expectations I think. I think you do get a different vacation experience when the focus is US National Parks vs. a foreign country where you are immersing yourself in a history and a different culture, so the latter, in my mind, tends to be more "magical" and more of a getaway from everyday life.

 

[Diskidatheart]

Thanks marcemch! I'm thinking if we would have done a US trip first, we would have been, "WOW...this is amazing!" and then the Italy trip would have exceeded that trip. I'll be interested to hear from those that did a US trip first.

 

[Bobo912]

We haven't done a Eurpoe ABD yet (coming in 2011, I hope), and there may be something more magical about them. I hope there is since that will give us even more to look forward to! We've done Coata Rica and Alaksa and although Costa Rica is a little more exotic, we loved both trips. I think a lot of the experience depends on the guides and fellow travelers. My son really bonded with one of the little girls on our Alaska trip and there were several adult couples on the trip that I enjoyed spending time with. I've never met an ABD guide I didn't like , but Mike and Carlene, our Alaska guides were especially great. I would take another trip with them any day. So even though the Alaska itinerary was less outside our realm of experience, we still enjoyed it just as much as the trip to Costa Rica. I think maybe it depends more on what you like to do, than on whether you're outside the US. So far, I've tried to select the more active, outdoor-centric trips since that is what we enjoy most. Although I'd like to see the museums, castles, etc. too, but not sure DS is quite ready for that yet. So if the Southwest Splendours itinerary really appeals to you, maybe you'll love it just as much as Viva Italia.

 

[WeLoveABD]

I also think there is a natural letdown--from going with the complete unknown re ABD (and all of its surprises), to being more "in the know" and finding that your prior excitement isn't matched. I've talked with several ABD travelers who experienced this--but we found that rather than a continual dimishing excitement with each trip, we adjusted our expectations and focused on the culture etc of the locale and taking comfort in knowing that the details that can make travel frustrating would be taken care of by our guides.

 

[kristilew]

Diskidatheart, I'm the one who wrote the SWS report you're referencing. It's been a year, and we've continued to reflect on exactly the question you ask.

I agree with Marcemrch about the "differentness" of more exotic locales being a factor, and I think WeLoveABD is on to something with the idea of adjusting expectations after a first ABD.

I also think for my particular situation, it was mostly a question of timing. We had just come off a year of really over-the-top travel, starting with the Peru trip the summer before, traveling a lot during the year, and returning from Paris only 10 days before leaving for the Southwest. SWS would have to have been really, really amazing to NOT seem a little like a let down at that point. Add to that the fact that for the first time ever on any trip for us, we just did not really like many of the people we were grouped with, and I think that accounted for a lot of our disappointment, more than anything particularly lacking on Disney's part.

So I guess the bottom line is, if the SWS trip appeals to you, I wouldn't hesitate to do it, even after Viva Italia. I would remind myself, often, that one of America's top tourist destinations is not the same as magical, exotic Italy, and expect a slightly lower-key adventure. Still, it is an extremely well-done trip and a beautiful part of our country.

I wonder if I should go back and edit my trip report with the "year later" perspective? I don't want it to turn anyone off. Have there been any 2010 SWS reports yet? I'd be curious as to how things are going this year.

 

[Diskidatheart]

Diskidatheart, I'm the one who wrote the SWS report you're referencing. It's been a year, and we've continued to reflect on exactly the question you ask.

I agree with Marcemrch about the "differentness" of more exotic locales being a factor, and I think WeLoveABD is on to something with the idea of adjusting expectations after a first ABD.

I also think for my particular situation, it was mostly a question of timing. We had just come off a year of really over-the-top travel, starting with the Peru trip the summer before, traveling a lot during the year, and returning from Paris only 10 days before leaving for the Southwest. SWS would have to have been really, really amazing to NOT seem a little like a let down at that point. Add to that the fact that for the first time ever on any trip for us, we just did not really like many of the people we were grouped with, and I think that accounted for a lot of our disappointment, more than anything particularly lacking on Disney's part.

So I guess the bottom line is, if the SWS trip appeals to you, I wouldn't hesitate to do it, even after Viva Italia. I would remind myself, often, that one of America's top tourist destinations is not the same as magical, exotic Italy, and expect a slightly lower-key adventure. Still, it is an extremely well-done trip and a beautiful part of our country.

I wonder if I should go back and edit my trip report with the "year later" perspective? I don't want it to turn anyone off. Have there been any 2010 SWS reports yet? I'd be curious as to how things are going this year.

I didn't want to use your name in my post, but since you mentioned it, it was your post that got me thinking. Your report isn't going to discourage me from booking the SWS trip (I appreciated your honesty about what you liked and disliked in your trip compared to your Peru trip), it just got me thinking if the SWS is the right vacation to go on next. We WILL do SWS at some point in time as it seems like it is a popular destination, but it may not be the right vacation next. In all honesty, I read the details on the trip on ABD's website and I wasn't as excited about this trip as I was when I first read about it some time ago. That's when I figured I'd read some trip reports and came across yours and thought to myself, I could definitely see myself being disappointed in it after Italy, so I wanted to get some other opinions. Let's face it, it is a lot of money to be spending.

I think WeLoveABD is definitely on to something with expectations. I definitely think expectations have a big impact on your vacation. For example, I had low expectations in Rome because I'm not a history type of person, but Rome exceeded my expectations by a ton! I had high expectations of Tuscany and was a little let down...not that Tuscany isn't beautiful and wonderful, just that I had different expectations of what it was going to be like (I still loved it, but not as much as I thought).

All good feedback so far. Thanks everyone! Maybe I'm just going through ABD withdrawal.

 

[kjd469]

O.K...I"ll add another angle here...as past ABD'ers on both the Peru and SWS trips, I was in complete agreement with Kristilew on the difference in "specialness" of the 2 trips. One thing to keep in mind is that generally tourism in foreign countries is one of their main resources...they value it highly and treat the tourists accordingly, whereas in Canada or the U.S., it is just one of many industries, and there seems to be less of a "bend over backwards to make you feel special" attitude from people you come across. I know for our family, this was one of the differences we had noticed between the 2 trips. (I'm not referring to the ABD guides, etc, who were fantastic on both trips, rather the hotel, restaurant, etc. employees).

 

[BasilofBakerstreet]

I agree with weloveABD. I think it is a difference between your 1st ABD and others or changes made from one year to the next.

We did Southwest Splendors before Peru and were most impressed with our Southwest Splendors experience. Southwest splendors was our first ABD in 2007 and Peru was in 2009.

I would choose whichever itinerary looks the most interesting to you and the place you most want to visit. You'll have a great time whichever trip you choose.

 

[DisFan10]

We took our first AbD in August of 2007 with Spirit of America, followed by Southwest Splendors the next month. Then, in 2008, we went on the China AbD, followed by Bella Italia last year. Next month, we are going on Cities of Knights & Lights and Alpine Magic.

As most of you know, there is nothing quite like experiencing your first AbD trip. For us, each one has been amazing and we did not find ourselves being disappointed at all. Maybe it's because we started with the domestic trips, but we just returned from a Tauck tour to basically the same places as Spirit of America and there is no comparison when it comes to the services of the AbD guides.

I think it comes down to the itinerary that appeals to you the most, regardless of whether it is domestic or international.

 

[HappyGrumpy]

Out trip was last August quest for the West. I have been all over europe and really wanted my first ABD to be overseas. However, I really fell in love with my country all over again. I live an hour from Williamsburg and grew up going there and having a true appreciation for our history.

I think sometimes we romanticize Europe and for good reason! However We fell in love with Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons! Absolutely Breathtaking! Brooks Lake Lodge and our own private cabin was truly outstanding. I really fell in love with this country all over again! So if you get a chance go for it!

 

[sayhello]

I've done 3 ABD's, 2 in the US, and now one in Europe. I still think the best experience was the first one I did, Southwest Splendors, although they were all fabulous. I really think there's a lot to what WeLoveABD says about expectations. I had NO idea what to expect with SWS, and my expectations were totally & completely exceeded. I was completely blown away. With Alaska & the Med, I had a much better idea of what to expect, and those expectations were totally met.

I happen to think SWS is a FABULOUS itinerary, and would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Sayhello

 

[glassslipper2004]

We did Viva Italia two summers ago, and SWS last summer. I don't know if any trip will ever equal the Viva trip - it was that special. But I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the SWS trip too. Italy, however, is just a magical place, full of history and art, which appeal more to me than the outdoors - it's just my own personal thing, not a problem with the trip. The Italy trip did seem a little more luxurious, full of little touches (when you arrive at the hotel in Artimino and little snacks and fresh juice are set out on the patio, for example), while the SWS trip was more of a trip that anyone could go on, without the extras, and seemed a little more like roughing it. The Italy trip had fun characters stop in (I don't want to spoil anything - but think of the ones in Venice) while the SWS trip did not. I kept expecting a cowboy to show up, and we did meet some "real" cowboys, but they were simply not as magical as the characters in Venice.

And of course you always have the nagging feeling that you could be doing a US trip just as easily (and more cheaply) on your own.

All that said, if I wanted to do another US tour, I would definitely pick a Disney one. And if Disney didn't go to the Southwest, I might not have gone at all, and my family enjoyed it tremendously. But I'm more likely to pick another Europe trip, as I think I got more magic for the buck.

 

[Diskidatheart]

Thanks glassslipper, that helps a lot. The Viva Italia trip truly was special. I was concerned that I wouldn't care for some of the parts because I'm really not a history person, but there is so much more to Rome than that. After going on this trip, I'm wondering if anything will live up to the Viva Italia trip. I plan on finding out over the the years though.

 

[glassslipper2004]

I plan on finding out over the the years though.

Me too!

 

[abdalums]

By default, Our first adventure was to Ireland 2007. We had wanted to go to Wyoming and it was booked. Our Ireland adventure was wonderful. It was our kids' first trip overseas, and it really was magical. Interestingly, we hadn't planned to take the kids to Europe until they were a little older. My son was the youngest on that trip (8) and we were pleasantly surprised how the tour balanced kid stuff and grown-up stuff. Upon returning, we signed up for Wyoming. I did question whether we needed a tour to do the US. But once again, Disney gave us a magical experience. This trip exceeded our expectations. FYI When you are coming from NJ, Wyoming is pretty exotic Last summer, we did Viva Italia. Again, a great trip. We added five days in Paris on the front end. We leave for our Germany adventure this Saturday and will add five days in London on the back end. Having traveled on our own to Paris and London in the past, we felt comfortable doing these cities on our own and not booking the ABD London/Paris trip. This is my feeling about SWS. I may be totally wrong, but I feel like we can do the Southwest without a Disney guide. Also the idea of the Southwest in the summer is not appealing. We would probably be more interested in a SWS if we could do it over spring break. All and all, try to view each trip as an unique adventure. We don't really compare one to the other as much as we have been thrilled by each trip in different ways.

 

[abdalums]

Here is yet another thought and something we are wrestling with as we consider next year: If our desire is to give our kids varied travel experiences, should we look to trips that take us way out of our comfort zones? Wyoming took me WAY out of my comfort zone. Hiking, rafting, fishing...not my normal idea of vacation. But ABD helped me be "a mountain woman" and my kids will never forget Mommy doing totally not-Mommy things. My son still talks about how we wore waders and he and I learned to fly fish while DH and DD went on a trail ride together. So, while we are considering another trip to Europe in 2011, we are looking at The Alps that has a more outdoorsy side than some of the others. Truthfully, if I followed my own logic, we would be going to Peru or China. As I look at the US ABD offerings, I think (for me) most of these trips can be done as well using local guides or on your own. The biggest drawback to leaving the the US I guess is airfare. Oh, one thing about local tour companies. We realized in WY that we would have picked a rafting company based on a Google search or the best Yellow Pages ad. Disney does due diligence on a level we can't even consider. So, if we were to do the Southwest on our own, it would be a lot of work on my part and no guarantee I wouldn't screw up.

 

[Sharkbyte]

I've been on the southwest splendors and the Costa Rica trip...both were fantastic for different reasons. Definatley go to southwest splendors....If you do, go to Arizona a day or two in advance and take a hot air balloon. I thought I'd freak out but it was one of the most wonderful experiences of our lives. Quiet and peaceful....

 

[pipch]

We have a different perspective as we live overseas but have travelled throughout the USA.
Although we loved the quest for the west trip and brooks lodge was the highlight.. our first trip to Costa Rica was far better. We felt that it was more to do with cost - costa Rica is cheaper, labour cheaper, travel etc and therefore the standard for the same price is much higher i.e: quality of accommodation was amazing, far superior to that in the USA and as someone rightly said we were not treated like a "tour bus" but like treasured guests. In costa Rica we were the only group in each hotel...in yellowstone we are just one of many such groups.

Hence our decision to try overseas again - we have based our Peru decision on this same assumption. It will be interesting to see if we are right